By The Hindu Bureau
Copyright thehindu
Kerala Assembly on Thursday referred the Kerala Forest (Amendment) Bill, 2025, and the Wildlife Protection (Kerala Amendment) Bill, 2025, to the Subject Committee on Forest, Environment and Tourism for further scrutiny.
While the Opposition expressed support for the intent behind the latter legislation that seeks to bolster the State’s efforts in mitigating human-wildlife conflicts, they dismissed it as an “election stunt”, given its introduction just months ahead of the local body elections.
Forest Minister A.K. Saseendran, who introduced the Bills, maintained the Wildlife Protection (Kerala Amendment) Bill would address the urgent need for State-specific amendments to the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
He added that the Assembly had earlier unanimously passed a resolution urging the Centre to amend the Central Act in view of the conflicts. Despite several representations, the Centre had adopted an indifferent stance, Mr. Saseendran alleged.
The proposed amendments will empower the Chief Wildlife Warden to adopt “sudden actions to issue orders to immediately kill any wild animal if it attacked and inflicted severe injuries to any person in a public place where people are usually gathered or in a residential area”.
The proposed legislation would also empower the State government to declare any wild animal in Schedule II of the Act as ‘vermin’. It also proposes to downgrade the ‘Bonnet Macaque’ from Schedule I to Schedule II.
Members of the Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) were critical of the government move, questioning why the legislation had not been introduced nine years ago when the previous Pinarayi Vijayan government came into power.
They also blamed the government for lacking a proper plan in dealing with human-wildlife conflicts.
Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan added that the proposed law contradicted the Central Act, and, therefore, would likely be referred to the President by the Governor. However, the Forest Minister and Law Minister P. Rajeeve maintained that thorough legal consultations had been conducted.
“Though this is a Concurrent List subject, we have the right to introduce State-specific amendments,” Mr. Saseendran said.
Congress legislator A.P. Anil Kumar raised concern over the revised definition of ‘forest officer’ in the Kerala Forest (Amendment) Bill, 2025. The proposed amendment expands the term to include officials ranging from the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests to section forest officer, timber depot officer, beat forest officer and watcher under the ambit of the term. Mr. Kumar warned that this broader definition could pave the way for misuse of authority.
Mr. Saseendran assured the Assembly that such contentious provisions would be carefully reviewed by the Subject Committee.
